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32321071659Top Work From Home Gadgets: Here’s How To Have The Perfect Work From Home Setuphttps://trak.in/tags/business/2020/04/18/top-work-from-home-gadgets-heres-how-to-have-the-perfect-work-from-home-setup/
Sat, 18 Apr 2020 05:38:14 +0000https://trak.in/?p=104850

Looking for the best work from home gadgets? Top work from home accessories? Here’s a dedicated post on everything you would need to have a perfect work from setup to continue working peacefully. Working from home sounds fun, but having a proper work from setup is very important to do it with ease. Today, we […]

Looking for the best work from home gadgets? Top work from home accessories? Here’s a dedicated post on everything you would need to have a perfect work from setup to continue working peacefully.

Top Work From Home Gadgets: Here’s How To Have The Perfect Work From Home Setup

Working from home sounds fun, but having a proper work from setup is very important to do it with ease.

Today, we have compiled all the important work from home accessories and gadgets together to let you have a checklist of what you will actually need.

The lockdown in India has been extended, and multiple office-goers are again decked to their home desks continuing their work from home. Here’s a full list of all the important work from home accessories for an easy go to WFH setup at home.

Top Work From Home Accessories: Work From Home Essentials

Here’s a checklist of all the important work from home gadgets and accessories to turn your home into a comfortable office.

Checkout the top work from home essentials for a suitable work from home setup.

Comfortable Chair, Desk

You should be paying special attention to this. A comfortable place to sit and work is the key to working from home success. Choose the chair you are comfortable to sit for hours, preferably an office chair. If you don’t have one, you may choose to sit and continue working on your dining table.

But make sure you take a break and walk for a while every 40-60 minutes to let your body relax.

Also, having a larger space on your desk lets you focus on important things.

High-Speed Internet Connection

If you have a broadband connection make sure to upgrade, if already you are on a high-speed plan, make sure everything’s working fine. It’s too bad to be stuck on a video conferencing call in the middle due to bad internet, or complain about not sending the important file at the right time due to poor connectivity.

In case you don’t have WiFi or broadband at home, recharge with a Work From Home pack or a higher data-bound package for seamless daily connectivity.

Earphones / Headphones

Use your favourite earphones for the long conference calls. Put them on even when on a video call, so that anyone around you at home isn’t disturbed, also the person on the other side can clearly hear you. Do check the microphone in advance.

If you go for an over the head headphone, make sure they are comfortable to be used for hours.

Laptop Table Stand

If you choose to skip the desk and comfortable working from the bed, a laptop stand could be good to go with. You get an elevation, and it also doesn’t hurt your back. In case you don’t have a laptop stand now, use a small stool as an alternative.

Make sure you buy one later. It’s really handy.

White Board / Writing Pad

It’s great to have a clear writing space, it lets you focus on the important things. Jotting down some new ideas for the next pitch or writing down some important to-dos, they should come handy.

Use your old white board to know what to do for the day, or just a clean pad for all your daily tasks.

Bluetooth Speaker

If your conference calls are way too long, it’s better to skip the headphones. It does harm you, and extended calls via headphones can later be a reason for headaches.

Instead go for a small bluetooth speaker and multitask on calls.

Power Bank / Extension Cord

If you already have a laptop power bank, you are good to go for some hours. Same for your smartphone. But in case you are too lazy to charge your power banks, it’s better to stay close to a charging point.

And if you’re again too lazy to be near a charging point, you can have an extension cord to solve your crisis.

Desk Organizer

A desk organizer could be perfect for having all your trivial stuff organized on your desk. It can hold all your important essentials at one place, be it pens, pencils, stapler, post-its and paper clips. You can have everything at one place without being messy.

You only lose the important stuff when you need it the most, so this can be really handy.

If you don’t have one, you can have a desk organiser made at home. Use some of the old delivery boxes or anything to keep your stuff organized and segmented.

Storage Device / External Hard Drive

While the important file stays safe on your laptop, it’s never a bad idea to keep a copy of it. You never know when an important file can go missing on your computer, or it may crash. Don’t let your boss complain about you being irresponsible again.

Having a backup of your important files is crucial. Use a hard drive, if not available, then a high-memory branded memory card.

If you still have none of the two, try atleast saving your important file on the cloud. But having an offline backup is important.

Desk Lamp

If your working hours are a little late or your room is not very bright in the day, having a desk lamp is better than lighting up the whole room. Desk lamp has an adjustable neck, works with the power bank and is bright enough to work in any condition.

Neck Pillow (In Case You Need Some Power Naps)

While we choose to sit in the same spot for hours, having a short nap while on the go could be great. Even if you’re not sleeping, the neck pillow could be great to let the head stay comfortable.

It can be a support cushion for your long day hours providing some relief.

As the rest of the world is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, things seem to be looking up in China! The smartphone companies have moved to digital mode to launch their products. Xiaomi is the latest to launch a new product from its Redmi brand, the Redmi Airdots S true wireless earphones. The Redmi AirDots […]

]]>Redmi Airdots S Wireless Earphones Launched For Rs 1100! Is This A Gamechanger?

As the rest of the world is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, things seem to be looking up in China! The smartphone companies have moved to digital mode to launch their products.

Xiaomi is the latest to launch a new product from its Redmi brand, the Redmi Airdots S true wireless earphones. The Redmi AirDots S is the successor to the Redmi AirDots, launched last year.

Read to find out more…

Here are the Specs of the Newly Launched Earphones!

Design, Build and Features

The Redmi Airdots S true wireless earphones are available in a single colour variant – black.The earphones themselves weigh just 4.1g each, making these among the lightest true wireless earphones available today. The earphones use 7.2mm drivers, and are IPX4-rated for water resistance. The earphones have a low-latency mode, which will allow for smoother transmission of sound from the smartphone to the earphones with reduced delay. This will benefit the gamers.

Battery and Connectivity

The Redmi Airdots S true wireless earphones have a claimed battery life of four hours per charge; when combined with the additional charges provided by the charging case, up to 12 hours of use can be expected. The earphones use Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity. In addition, there is support for voice assistants, environmental noise reduction through the Realtek RTL8763BFR Bluetooth chip. You can also use either earphone individually without separately pairing each earphone of the Redmi AirDots S.

Pricing and Availability

The Redmi Airdots S true wireless earphones have been launched in China, priced at CNY 100 (approx. Rs. 1,100) and are available to buy on the company’s e-store for China. The Redmi Airdots were also launched at the same price of CNY 100.

There is demand for the company’s true wireless earphones in India due to the competitive pricing. While the earphones are already on sale in China, the company hasn’t revealed its plans of launching the product in the overseas market.

Nothing lights up our near and dear ones more than being gifted with the coolest and latest gadgets. When we’re living in high-tech digital world, why not splurge on some really swanky gadgets for them this season. If you haven’t already finished your Christmas shopping, take your pick from these five best gadgets from ShopClues […]

Nothing lights up our near and dear ones more than being gifted with the coolest and latest gadgets. When we’re living in high-tech digital world, why not splurge on some really swanky gadgets for them this season. If you haven’t already finished your Christmas shopping, take your pick from these five best gadgets from ShopClues and become the best Santa ever.

Gionee S6 Pro (Gold, 4GB RAM, 64 GB)

The main focus of the upgraded version of the S6, the Gionee S6 Pro, is its selfie flash and better performance. With a 5.5-inch full-HD IPS screen and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for security, the new phone sports an all-metal body. With 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, there is a MediaTek Helio P10 SoC. The mobile also sports a 3130mAh battery with battery life throughout the day.

Gionee F205 2GB Ram 16GB ROM Black

It has 13.84cm(5.45), 18:9 FullView HD+ IPS Display, 5MP selfie camera for Bokeh (?) Selfies with the Face Beauty Mode and 8 MP Rear camera with LED Flash. It has face recognition that quickly unlocks your phone. It has triple

Multicolor S10 Mini Wireless Portable Plastic Bluetooth Speakers

Its Crack Pattern Mini Loudspeaker Set With Smart Colored LED Lights Looks Delicate And Fresh, Full Of Personality And Makes Your Speaker More Attractive. It gives excellent audio output when you are enjoying your movies/music in your own comfort. Player Play FM Radio, audio from TF card plays any Analogue sound Devices. It has Micro SD Card and Pen-Drives Support. Comes With Volume Rocker Buttons For Adjusting Volume.

Premium HBS 730 Wireless in the ear Bluetooth Earphone/Headphone

This Bluetooth has 3d Neck behind (around-the-neck Wearing Style With Body-contoured Fit). It has Vibration for connection and Calls. It can be used for calls and audio from music and videos. There is noise Reduction Echo Cancellation with 10 hours of listening and 15 hours of talk time.

One Plus shows no signs of stopping or slowing down. The Chinese giant hasn’t stopped surprising us with its exemplar quality handsets in the near past and doesn’t seem like letting us down even in future. With new smartphone handsets launching and its recent breakdown into the smart TV market, One Plus has managed to […]

One Plus shows no signs of stopping or slowing down. The Chinese
giant hasn’t stopped surprising us with its exemplar quality handsets in the
near past and doesn’t seem like letting us down even in future.

With new smartphone handsets launching and its recent breakdown into the smart TV market, One Plus has managed to surprise each one of us with its consecutive moves, every once in a while. Lets’s speak of your convenience of listening to music today.

We are all aware and interacting with accessories like wireless earphones, the best of which is Apple’s Airpods. Almost recently, Apple launched its new AirPods Pro and the audio accessory market has suddenly seen a lot of interest from other phone makers as well.

One Plus Working on Wireless Earbuds

If you follow the smartphone and tech market closely, you must be hearing people comparing Apple’s iPhone’s features with that of the Chinese smartphone company One Plus’android smartphones, except at cheaper prices.

One Plus has emerged as an endearing
and highly preferable brand for the Indians, as a hugh end Android phone, with
exemplar features and an affordable range. If you have a certain liking towards
the very recent wireless earphones, you are in luck, as sources have confirmed
that One Plus is working on its first truly wireless earbuds.

According to reliable tipster Max J, these earbuds by One Plus would necessarily be without any cable and chances are, they could be similar to Apple earpods in appearance.

He shared an image that says “listen, call and workout without cords” and claims it belong to OnePlus. There is until now, no name to this new earbuds but it can be expected that OnePlus shall stick to the Bullets nomenclature.

We aren’t sure-shotedly confirming One Plus to release such an analogy and
it is as of now, just a speculation. However, with the entire
industry jumping in to offer wireless earbuds, chances are high that
OnePlus could be doing the same.

If One Plus Releases its Wireless
Earbuds

OnePlus has so far only stuck to
neckband style earphones as well as wired earphones. Currently, it makes the
Bullets Wireless 2 neckband earphones along with the Bullets earphones with
USB-C port.

It can be speculated that the new
wireless earbuds could sit above these two and challenge the Apple AirPods
directly but at a slightly cheaper price, as we know the base model of the
AirPods starts at approximately Rs 15,000.

There are certain chances that OnePlus could be co-developing the earbuds along with its sister firm Realme. Realme has recently announced that it is going to bring true wireless earbuds to the Indian market, launching on December 17 along with the Realme XT730G. These earphones are expected to be extremely affordable, unlike Apple’s Airpods.

However, OnePlus could spice up the
design with silicone ear tips and might even include more powerful drivers and
better tuning. The OnePlus buds could also come with better battery life
and an overall premium build. It wouldn’t be surprised if OnePlus decides to use active noise cancellation
for its earbuds.

Currently, rumours of OnepLus working on three variants of the OnePlus 8 series are doing the rounds. OnePlus could offer an affordable OnePlus 8 Lite, a slightly more premium OnePlus 8 and a fully-loaded OnePlus 8 Pro next year, with the chances that OnePlus earbuds could launch with these three OnePlus phones sometime early next year.

After Xiaomi unveiled its first smartwatch, it’s now time for the first Redmi smartwatch. The company has confirmed that they are making a smartwatch under Redmi brand as well, and it’s going to be loaded with similar features at a more affordable price tag. Redmi has officially announced that they are working on a smartwatch. […]

After Xiaomi unveiled its first smartwatch, it’s now time for the first Redmi smartwatch. The company has confirmed that they are making a smartwatch under Redmi brand as well, and it’s going to be loaded with similar features at a more affordable price tag.

Redmi Smartwatch In The Making: 5 Things You Must Know

Redmi has officially announced that they are working on a smartwatch.

Xiaomi launched its first ever smartwatch alongside Mi Note 10, the Mi Watch. As other Xiaomi products, the Mi Watch design also resembles another hit smartwatch, the Apple Watch. With Redmi Smartwatch confirmed, here’s a few things you must know.

Redmi Smartwatch Design: Same As Mi Watch?

To start with, the newly unveiled Mi Watch is heavily inspired by another popular smartwatch in the market, the Apple watch. Just as the Apple watch, the Mi Watch also sports a rectangular dial design. The same design is expected on Redmi smartwatch as well.

The display is square-shaped with a 3D sapphire glass coating on top to keep it safe from scratches.

Redmi watch will have a circular button on the right as Mi Watch to give in functionalities. operate the watch. The watch can be used to receive and reject calls, read and send messages, mails, play and pause music, real-time notifications and more.

WearOS Platform: Redmi Watch To Have Its Own UI?

Currently the Mi Watch runs on a customised MIUI skin for smartwatches in China. The company has already confirmed the availability of Mi Watches outside China, and there the watches will run on Google’s customised wearable UI platform, the WearOS.

The Redmi smartwatch will also run on the same Google WearOS outside home market. In India, Redmi smartwatch will come with Google WearOS and added MIUI features.

Fitness Features On Redmi Watch: Same As Mi Watch?

Redmi Watch will come with smart fitness features just as Mi Watch. Just as any other top-end smartwatch available in the market, the Redmi Watch will also pack in the smart fitness features. This will include activities about health, movement, wellness and mostly about what you are doing in your daily life.

The Redmi Watch will also offer real-time results of all your workout activities and will track running, cycling, swimming and walking.

Redmi Smartwatch Top Features: Redmi Watch Specs, Functions

Just as the Mi Watch, Redmi Watch will come with the standard functionalities as receiving or rejecting calls, sending messages and emails, playing music and much more. Redmi Watch will steps, activities, workout, swimming, walking, running, heart rate and your sleeping.

Mi Watch has an 1.78-inch AMOLED display with 326 PPI, backed by a 570mAh battery. It has GPS, Wi-Fi, NFC and supports eSIM. The same features are expected on Redmi Watch.

Redmi Watch India Launch: Will Mi Watch Come To India?

The company already has fitness bands available in India, the Mi Bands. All the Mi Bands, irrespective of all the generations have been very successful in the country. Xiaomi is also the number one wearable brand in the country, and hence Redmi Watch will come to India.

But Redmi Watch will come to India, and the Redmi Watch India launch is expected next year.

Mi Watch is available at 1299 (around Rs 13,000). Redmi Watch India price may start at under 10000 with similar top features and functions. Redmi smartwatch is still in the making, and the China launch will happen in a few months. So, the Redmi smartwatch India launch will happen at a later period than that.

The Xiaomi owned sub-brand Huami has globally unveiled an all-new smartwatch, the Amazfit Bip. The Amazfit works with Android devices and iPhones, and packs in all the features you would need in a smartwatch. Xiaomi has stated that the Amazfit Bip can run for up to 4 months on a single charge in the watch mode.

The Xiaomi owned sub-brand Huami has globally unveiled an all-new smartwatch, the Amazfit Bip. The Apple Watch is among one of the best-selling smartwatches around the globe. The Amazfit Bip Smartwatch (with GPS) is ‘inspired’ by Apple Watch’s design, but it is available at a fraction of the price.

The Amazfit works with Android devices and iPhones, and packs in all the features you would need in a smartwatch. Xiaomi has stated that the Amazfit Bip can run for up to 4 months on a single charge in the watch mode.

Normally the smartwatch offers a 45-day battery life, in running mode, and has been priced at $99 (around Rs. 6,500) globally. Though it has not officially launched in India, It is currently available on Amazon India for Rs. 7,990/-.

Amazfit Bip Smartwatch – Features

The smartwatch features a rectangular face with a 20mm rubber-strap belt and weighs around 31 grams with a polycarbonate built. The design bears a strong resemblance to Apple Watch. The straps are user-replaceable.

The Huami Amazfit Bip will feature a 1.28-inch display with a screen resolution of 176 x 176 pixels. It has a capacitive touchscreen display on top protected by a 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The smartwatch is powered by a 190 mAh Lithium Polymer battery which keeps the watch running for 22 hours on a single charge, when the GPS is on in running mode.

The newly launched Amazfit Bip features Bluetooth v4.0 and can be connected to a Wi-Fi network. The Chinese company has also included a PPG heart rate sensor backed by an acceleration sensor, geomagnetic sensor and an air pressure sensor under the hood.

The battery life on the Xiaomi Amazfit Bip is significantly longer than most of the other smartwatches available in the market and is capable of tracking runs, walks and cycling. It is also IP68 water and dust resistance certified.

6 Reasons Why Amazfit Bip Could Be An Apple Watch Killer

The newly launched Xiaomi Amazfit Bip Smartwatch could be an Apple Watch killer mainly because of the features it offers at this price point.

Solid Battery Backup

The smartwatch takes 2.5 hours to charge up to 100% and can last for 4 months in watch mode, 45 days in running mode and 22 hours in the GPS + running mode.

IP68 Certification

The Xiaomi Smartwatch has an IP68 certified water and dust resistance, which is a big plus in outdoor and wet conditions.

Notification Reminder

You can get notifications for calls or messages on the watch. Plus, users will be instantly notified of app notifications from Facebook WhatsApp, Instagram and more. The Amazfit Bip Smartwatch is compatible with Android 4.4 and iOS 8 and above.

Xiaomi Mi Fit 3.0

The Amazfit Bip connects with the smartphone through Xiaomi’s new Mi Fit 3.0 app. It allows personalised settings and synchronizes the daily activity data, which includes the distance covered, average speed, no. of steps, stride frequency and even the heart rate data.

Reflective Whole Day Display

The smartwatch will keep you showing the statistics as you raise your arm and it will smartly auto-adjust the screen brightness according to the lighting conditions.

The Xiaomi smartwatch will be available in four colour options – Onyx Black, White Cloud, Kodak Green and Cinnabar Red.

On the smartphone side of the things, Xiaomi India is all set to launch its first smartphone of 2018 in the country and has already sent out the media invites for the launch event on 14 February. The invite does not mention any names, but it has the number ‘5‘ prominently highlighted which indicates that it could be the Redmi 5.

]]>https://trak.in/tags/business/2018/02/07/amazfit-bip-smartwatch-launched/feed/171120Beat The Pollution This Winter With These Top 7 Affordable Air Purifiershttps://trak.in/tags/business/2017/11/10/top-7-affordable-air-purifiers/
https://trak.in/tags/business/2017/11/10/top-7-affordable-air-purifiers/#respondFri, 10 Nov 2017 10:52:11 +0000http://trak.in/?p=66240

The worsening pollution is making it difficult to breathe, not only outdoors, but even in homes & offices. So air purifiers are becoming increasingly common

Winter is here! And with it the pollution, which sits close to the ground. The worsening conditions in Delhi are making it difficult to breathe, not only outdoors, but even in homes and offices. Air purifiers are becoming the norm rather than an exception.

Winter is the time when most people suffer from a surge in allergies, asthma or several other breathing problems. Air purifiers help fight these allergies and problems by cleaning the air around us of harmful pollutants.

Air Purifiers: Our Saviours?

While you cannot control the atmosphere outside, you can at least have clean breathable air inside your own home. Virtually unknown till a few years ago, air purifiers now have a steady market in India, thanks to the pollution.

Here we list out some of the top affordable air purifiers available in India.

Mi Air Purifier 2

The Mi Air Purifier 2 has the capacity to clean up the air in a 400 square feet area in just 10 minutes. The purifier has a triple layer filter which helps to remove harmful PM2.5 pollutants from the air. The purifier also has real-time AQI monitoring which one can control directly from the Mi Home app.

Philips 1000 Series Air Purifier

The Philips 1000 Series Air Purifier comes equipped with VitaShield IPS (Intelligent Purification System) Technology. The device has an in-built Auto Mode and Allergen Mode which helps to remove allergens and pollens from air. It comes with CADR (clean air delivery rate) to clean air up to 270 m3/hour. It claims to remove 99.97% of the air with extra thick NanoProtect TRUE HEPA filter.

Panasonic Air Purifier (F-PBJ30ADD)

The Panasonic Air Purifier comes with a CADR (clean air delivery rate) of 168 m3/hour over an area of 215 sq.ft. If is equipped with special Nano-technology which releases OH radicals in the form of water molecules and effectively removes bacteria and odors from air. The purifier has a dirt sensor which detects PM 2.5 level and clears air air efficiently.

Samsung Air Purifier

The Samsung Air Purifier comes with intensive triple air purification feature which helps capture house dust and clears up to 99.9% of the ultrafine particles from the air. It uses activated charcoal to remove odor causing gases. It helps to remove contaminants, bacteria, viruses and airborne allergens from the air indoors.

HoneyWell AirTouch I8

The HoneyWell AirTouch 18 comes with a 3-layer filter process. It comes with HiSiv filter, HEPA filter and a pre-filter which can be washed and cleaned. The purifier helps to clean large dust particles, bacteria, formaldehydes and other volatile organic compounds. It claims to offer PM2.5 removal efficiency of more than 90% with touch panel for operations.

Havells AP22 Air Purifier

The AP22 Air Purifier from Havells has with a CADR (clean air delivery rate) of 200m3/h. It can efficiently remove PM 2.5 up to 0.02 microns and has a removal efficiency of up to 99.9%. The purifier also comes with a health plus lock with child lock option and and a filter replacement alert.

Sharp Air Purifier Fu-A80E

The Sharp Air Purifier comes equipped with a True HEPA Filter. It claims that the purifier can clean the air up PM2.5 which is close to ZERO mcg/m3. It comes with special Plasmacluster Ion Technology that can effectively remove the odors, allergens and infections. It has a CADR (clean air delivery rate) of 480m3/h with dust sensors for monitoring the quality of air with a Auto Restart Function.

Our worst fears are coming true. It is the sort of privacy nightmare that George Orwell in iconic book 1984 and Ray Bradbury in Fahrenheit 451 had explained.

Are the machines finally taking over the human intelligence?

Google’s smart speakers, Home Mini, which was launched this month, and scheduled for shipping from October 19th, has been found to be recording everything humans (or other machines) say. And this recording, or rather eavesdropping is happening without the users’ consent or approval.

In short, Google’s smart speakers are doing something which it has not been asked to.

To cover up the matter, Google has said that it is a minor hardware glitch, and has even declared the solution.

But, questions remains unanswered.

Google Home Mini: The Smart Speaker Doing The Evil Thing

Artem Russakovskii, founder of AndroidPolice, a popular blog related with Android was provided with a Google Home Mini smart speakers for experiencing and using it, before it is released on October 19th.

To his horror, he found that the device is listening and recording to everything, without his consent.

As per his blog, the smart speaker is supposed to be triggered when a hot-word is said, which is Hey or OK for Home Mini. Hot word for Amazon’s similar product Echos, is Alexa.

It may happen that a nearby TV or radio also broadcasts this hotword, and the smart speakers can get triggered. However, these are rare chances, and may or may not happen.

However, what Artem found was that, the device was behaving strangely, and waking up thousands of times, automatically.

After waking up, it was listening to the conversations, recording them, and sending them to Google’s servers, on auto-pilot. No consent or permission was being sought.

A typical privacy nightmare.

Google Responds: Promises To Fix The Error

After few days of this case being reported, Google responded.

“We have learned of an issue impacting a small number of Google Home Minis that could cause the touch mechanism to behave incorrectly. We are rolling out a software update today that should address the issue. If you’re having any additional issues, please feel free to contact Google Support at 1-855-971-9121.”

As a resolution to this issue, Google has decided to kill the touch functionality from all the devices, so that the hardware malfunction is not triggered automatically.

Hence, the only way to wake Google Home Mini is to say Hello or OK.

In a statement, Google said, “We take user privacy and product quality concerns very seriously. Although we only received a few reports of this issue, we want people to have complete peace of mind while using Google Home Mini.

We have made the decision to permanently remove all top touch functionality on the Google Home Mini. As before, the best way to control and activate Google Home Mini is through voice, by saying “Ok Google” or “Hey Google,” which is already how most people engage with our Google Home products. You can still adjust the volume by using the touch control on the side of the device.”

Besides, a support page was also published by Google, wherein they have explained what exactly went wrong, and how the problem is now under control.

India is the first Asian country, and fourth country in the world to get the much awaited Alexa powered Amazon Echo range of hands-free speakers. The American e-commerce giant has launched Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Plus in the country. They will start shipping from 30th October.

Amazon had launched the Echo series of the smart speakers in the US last week. For now, the Amazon Echo, Echo Plus and Echo Dot are available in India, by invitation only. The speakers will come bundled with exciting launch offers which includes an introductory 30% off on the sticker price and one free year of Prime membership.

Amazon Prime Music Launching Soon

Along with their Echo speakers, Amazon also announced the upcoming launch of Prime Music in India. It will soon be available as an exclusive preview on Amazon Echo speakers. After the trial period is over, Amazon Prime Music will be exclusively available to Prime members.

Amazon Prime Membership Increased

Amazon has recently announced an increase in price of Amazon Prime subscription in India. It has gone up from the current Rs. 499/- to Rs. 999/- per year.

Alexa for India

Alexa is Amazon’s cloud based voice assistant who will be able to answer to your queries, control your smart lights, provide scores and weather updates among many more things. For India, Amazon has customized Alexa so that it can identify and work with local pronunciations, recognize music titles, names and places in English and non-English languages. Amazon has said that Alexa will learn and acquire new skills with usage over time. Users will be able to order food from Zomato, request a ride from Ola or book a plumber from Urbanclap.

Amazon Echo Series

Amazon has launched three variants of its Alexa-enabled Echo series of speakers in India. Each has a different price and its own set of advantages and disadvantages

Amazon Echo

Amazon Echo is the mid-tier model in Echo series. It has seven microphones scattered around on the body which use beam-forming technology and noise cancellation to listen to voice-commands. It is a 360 degree omnidirectional speaker with a 2.5 inch down firing woofer to play music. It is priced at Rs. 9,999/-, but is available at Rs. 6,999/-. It is available in Black, White and Grey colour variants.

Amazon Echo Vs Google Home

Echo is cheaper as compared to Google Home. In terms of functionality, both speakers can do it all, play your music, answer your questions and more. As of now Amazon is much ahead in this space, at least in India. But Google Home beats Echo in one crucial aspect, Artificial Intelligence. Google has pitched Artificial Intelligence as the future of mobile. Google already has a vast repository of user information collected over the years. Google knows where we live, how we live, our eating habits and much more. Google knows us better than we do ourselves. Going further this could prove to be a deciding factor among these two.

Amazon Echo Dot

The Echo Dot is cheapest among the three. It comes with support for Bluetooth and 3.5mm audio jack connectivity. It features hands-free voice recognition and has all features of the standard Echo. Sporting a sleek, compact design, it can play music, check news, weather and score updates, set alarms and do much more through voice commands. The Echo Dot has been priced at Rs. 4,499/-, but is available for Rs. 3,149/-. It is available in Black and White colour variants.

Amazon Echo Dot vs Google Home Mini

Essentially, Echo Dot and Home Mini are smaller variants of smart speakers in their respective series. Both can play music, answer random queries, enable home automation, set up alarms and reminders, with ease using voice commands. Even though they are priced the same, Home Mini has the edge with Google’s wide range of services over Echo Dot’s versatility.

Amazon Echo Plus

The Echo Plus sports all the features from the standard Echo and supports smart home hub as an extra. The new Echo Plus will allow you to connect with smart home devices like Philips Hue. Additionally, it can perform all regular tasks like checking news and weather, setting up alarms and more. The Echo Plus has been priced at Rs. 14,999/-, but is available at Rs. 10,499/-. Indian customers might get a complementary Philips Hue smart lightbulb with their Echo Plus order.

Amazon Echo Plus vs Google Home Max

Well, these two speakers aren’t really comparable. Google Home Max costs almost three-times the price of Amazon Echo Plus. The Echo Plus mainly acts as a central hub for your smart home (plus a better music device), whereas the Home Max mainly focuses on music services in addition to rest of its smart capabilities. It has an incredibly loud and clear speaker with voice control.

Availability

Amazon will start shipping the Echo speakers in India starting first week of November. Apart from Amazon India, Echo speakers will be available offline at Croma, Reliance Digital stores and other offline retail chains.

Google is ready, and so are we! The search giant is set to reveal their new range of hardware devices at the Google Event happening at 9:30 pm IST today. They had a similar event last year on the same date where they launched the first generation Pixel phones, Pixel and Pixel XL, alongside Google Home and other products.

Google has already confirmed the launch of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. But, there’s more to the story. Some of the devices rumoured to launch later today have been doing rounds on the internet for quite some time now. Here are the six products that Google is likely to launch today.

Google Pixel 2

The next gen Pixel phone, Google Pixel 2 is the successor to the last year’s Google Pixel. Pixel 2 has been manufactured by HTC and will include a ‘squeeze’ feature similar to HTC’s own flagship HTC U11. Squeezing the bezels of the Pixel 2 will trigger pre-set or programmable actions. Pixel 2 will feature a 4.97” full HD, Always-On display with regular-sized bezels. Under the hood, it will carry Snapdragon 835 with a pair of dual stereo speakers and a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front shooter. The device will run latest version of Android O out of the box.

Google Pixel 2 XL

The Google Pixel 2 XL will be the successor to last year’s Google Pixel XL. It is said to be manufactured by LG and will feature minimal bezels with a 5.99” 18:9 display like the LG V30 and LG G6. The Pixel 2 XL will feature a design similar to Pixel 2. It will pack in a Snapdragon 835 processor, a pair of dual front-facing stereo speakers, a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front shooter. The device will run the latest version of Android O out of the box and could forego the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Google Daydream View VR Headset (New Version)

The old Daydream View will get a new version this year. The updated Google DayDream View will be available in different colours and a design similar to the last one, with changes happening inside. Like the first generation headset, the second generation headset will also come with a Motion Controller. It is being expected to cost $69 (approximately around Rs. 4,500/-) in the US.

Google PixelBook

The new Google PixelBook will be the combined successor to the their Pixel C Tablet and Chromebook Pixel. It will be a hybrid tablet which will feature a 360-degree hinge and will run on Chrome OS. It will have three storage variants – 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. Prices will start at $1,199 (around Rs. 78,315/-). The new Pixelbook will feature a 12.3” display powered by an Intel Core i5 chipset. There is also going to be a Pixel Pen accessory, priced at $99 (Rs. 6,450/-).

Google Home Mini

The Google Home Mini speaker was accidentally listed on a Walmart’s website, which revealed the price. The Google Home Mini will ship for just $49 (roughly Rs. 3,200/-) in the US starting from 19th October. It is a smaller version of the current Google Home Bluetooth speaker. The device will go head-on against Amazon’s Echo Dot. The Home Mini will feature Google Assistant and will answer to queries using the stored user data over WiFi.

Google Home Max

Like the lighter version, the Google Home Mini, there is also going to be a larger version called the Google Home Max. Not much is known at this point, but Google Home Max will probably compete with the Sonos Play 3 speaker and sport a ‘premium’ design with ‘additional features’.

Another mysterious Google product called Google Clips, which probably could be a computer accessory, has been spotted in the wild. But not much information is available as of now.

India witnessed its first ever global technological event, the India Mobile Congress 2017 (IMC) underway at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Today was the second day of the three-day event. It is scheduled from 27th September to 29th September. Major Indian telecom operators like Jio, Airtel and Vodafone showcased their framework on 5G technology and how they are going to enhance the telecommunication network in the country.

From Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Internet of Things (IOT), the India Mobile Congress 2017 (IMC) is proving to be an event that is at par with the other global tech events. Here a few insightful and quirky highlights from the IMC 2017 so far.

LG K7i: The Smartphone That Drives Away Mosquitoes

LG launched a unique budget smartphone at the IMC, the LG K7i. The phone packs in ‘Mosquito Away Technology’ which is supposed to drive away mosquitos! The device emits specific sound waves at an ultrasonic frequency which are irritating for mosquitos and drives them away. This unique smartphone will be available at a price tag of Rs. 7,999/-.

Nokia’s 360° Camera

This camera is not from HMD Global, the sole global licensee of Nokia handsets. Nokia has been creating technology that connects the world and is still committed to making high-quality, cutting-edge tech products. The 360° stereoscopic camera called Nokia OZO has 8 lenses, each with a 190° field of view. It can shoot videos at 30 fps and packs in 500GB of on-board storage.

Meizu Pro 7 Plus: The Smartphone With 2 Screens

Chances are, you might have heard about this one already. For those who haven’t heard about this unique smartphone, the Meizu Pro 7 Plus comes equipped with two screens. There’s a regular screen at the front, and the other one, a 1.9” AMOLED panel is located below the dual cameras at the back. It is a touchscreen. So, you can take ultra hi-res selfies with your primary camera. Besides this, if the phone is lying face down, the second screen will show the number of incoming notifications.

BSNL’s Satellite Phone Service

At the IMC 2017, BSNL has launched their satellite based mobile services for texts and voice calls. The Sat-Phone from BSNL is launched to keep people connected even in the remotest of places. The service was formerly restricted to government agencies. Now the service has been opened up to general public.

Airtel To Invest Rs. 20,000 Crores In Digital Infrastructure

Airtel is planning a collaborative approach to cope with their present situation and overcome infrastructure challenges. It will invest around Rs. 20,000 crores on digital infrastructure to transform the telecom industry. Airtel has already debuted their 5G services in Bengaluru and Kolkata.

400 Million Internet Users In India

The digital economy of India is worth $1 trillion (around Rs. 65,77,989 crores), Google India said at the event today. India has over 400 million Internet users, and digital content in regional languages is expected to give the digital economy a major boost. Out of 400 million users, 234 million are local language users and that number is expected to grow up to 536 million by 2021.

4G Coverage Will Outgrow 2G

Mukesh Ambani at the IMC 2017 said, that 4G coverage in India will cross the 2G within the next 12 months. Within last one year, India has become the largest data consuming country in the world, from 155th position, in mobile data penetration.

Data Is The New Oil And India Is The Largest Consumer

Mr. Ambani pointed out the importance of data, and how it can help the Indian economy to grow. It is fueled by connectivity, data and artificial intelligence. Mobile internet and cloud computing can be the foundation for India’s technological revolution. He also put forth that India doesn’t need to import data as we have it in “super abundance”.

Adding a new product to their wide range of accessories, Xiaomi has launched their Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 here in India with an affordable price tag of Rs.1,799/-. The new Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 will house two speaker grilles which claims to push out clearer and more natural sound than other Bluetooth speakers.

First Impressions

The BT speaker from Xiaomi has been specially designed to output crystal clear sound. Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 has a compact size and the sound will be enhanced compared to the previous Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic. The speaker works with both, iOS and Android platforms, and comes with a built-in mic for taking hands-free calls.

Design and Shape

Like the last one, the newer variant too features an aluminium frame on the outside, with a stylish matte finish. The speaker has slightly chamfered edges. The Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 weighs 237 grams, and is portable enough to be carried around easily.

Hands-Free Operation

Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 can be paired with both, Android and iOS devices. It can be used to make or receive phone calls with its high-quality integrated microphone, apart from listening to music. Just press the power key for using it as a speaker in conference calls.

Battery Life

The Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 has a claimed battery-life of up to 10 hours of continuous playback (at 40% volume), which is above average for BT speakers. The speaker packs in a 1200mAh lithium polymer battery inside the compact body.

Connectivity

The Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 uses Bluetooth v4.2 to connect to other devices. It ensures a stable connection while consuming less power. If you wish to connect the speaker to other devices like your PC or older generation MP3 players, Xiaomi has provided an AUX connection as well.

Sound Output

The Xiaomi Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 will output between 2402 MHz and 2480 MHz frequency. The frequency response ranges from 100Hz to 18KHz, with a max output of 2.5Wx2. These figures are above the average when it comes to BT speakers.

Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2: Fact Sheet

Dimensions: 154.5mm × 60mm × 25.5mm

Bluetooth: v4.2

Bluetooth Range: ? 10m

Frequency Range: 2402 MHz – 2480 MHz

Supported Audio: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP

Charging: 5V at 1A

Continuous Playback: 10 hours (at 40% volume)

Rated Power: 2.5W × 2

Speaker Impedance: 3 Ohms

Frequency Response Range: 100Hz – 18KHz

Price, Variants and Availability

The Xiaomi Mi Bluetooth Speaker Basic 2 will be available in one color option, white. You can buy one on Mi’s website starting today, 27th September at 10:00 am for Rs. 1799/-.

You can grab some extra cashback and discounts on other products in the ‘Diwali with Mi’ sale at the Mi India online store!

Chinese electronics major Xiaomi has beaten both Fitbit & Apple single-handed to become the undisputed leader of wearables, globally. This marks a major transformation the still-nascent wearable market, which was dominated by Fitbit till now.

Apple, which tried to induce a coup in this market has suffered a major setback as well, because they had pinned lots of hope into making their Apple Watches a global phenomenon, just like their iPods, iPhones and MacBooks.

We are not calling Xiaomi beating Apple as a defeat, because if we dig into the numbers, then we will find that Apple has performed indeed well, beating their own expectations. But the marketing gimmicks of Xiaomi, and their relentless focus on the price factor propelled them to beat World’s most valuable technology company by a fair margin.

But yes, for Fitbit, this is a major defeat, as they saw their market share sliding drastically in the last quarter, giving way to Xiaomi to become the global leader of wearables.

Changing Dynamics Of Wearable Market

For Q2 2017, Xiaomi managed to ship 3.7 million units of wearables, thus becoming the single largest player of the segment by capturing 17.1% market share.

As per data released by Strategy Analytics, in the same period, Fitbit managed to ship 3.4 million units, whereas Apple shipped 2.8 million units, to be placed at No. 3 position.

If we compare to last year, then for the same period, Xiaomi shipped 3 million units, thereby recording 22% year on year rise in the total number of shipments.

On the same hand, Fitbit had shipped 5.7 million units in Q2 2016, which has now reduced to 3.4 million, thereby registering a massive drop of 67% in year to year comparison. This difference has been grabbed by both Xiaomi and Apple to increase their market share.

If we talk about Apple, then they had shipped 1.8 million units last year for the same period, which has now increased to 2.8 million units, thereby increasing by 55%.

What Is The Future?

Strategy Analytics is quite bullish on Apple, because of the launch of their next model of Apple Watch, which promises some great features which includes the next generation of fitness tracking.

Steven Waltzer, Industry Analyst at Strategy Analytics said, “However, the rumoured upcoming Watch Series 3 launch with enhanced health tracking could prove to be a popular smartwatch model and enable Apple to reclaim the top wearables spot later this year.”

Fitbit’s lack of innovation is proving to be costly for them. They had planned to launch their much-hyped smart watch, which was supposed to rival Apple Watch and Samsung Gear S3. But due to production issues, their launch is still pending.

On the other hand Xiaomi has managed to induce some cool features into the fitness bands, and providing them at a cheap cost, which enabled them sell more units. Features such heart-rate monitors, step-counters and calendar alerts have proven to be a huge hit with their user base.

Overall, 22 million of wearables were sold globally the Q2 of 2017, registering an increase of 8% compared to last year.

2017 has seen a flurry of Smartphone launches in India, but August will see launches of some of the most awaited smartphones of this year. The list includes Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Blackberry's Keyone and Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom. Its going to be an action packed August

The smartphone market in the country will witness some really good smartphone launches this month (August 2017). In case you are planning for a new smartphone, here are the best from the new lot to look out for.

1. Lenovo K8 Note

The Lenovo K series is all ready to welcome their new successor, the K8 Note. The new K8 Note will launch on August 9, confirmed by the Chinese giant by posting the ‘Killer Note’ teaser on their social media handles. The latest K8 Note will probably pack in an Helio X20 processor with a massive 4500 mAh battery. It is being expected to be a part of the mid budget 15K club and will be a Flipkart Exclusive product.

Key Specs (Rumoured)

5.5 inch Full HD Display (1080 x 1920 pixels)

Dual Sim with 4G VoLTE Support

4GB RAM

64GB onboard storage

MediaTek Helio X20 clocked at 1.39 GHz deca-core processor

Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box

4500 mAh Battery

16 MP Rear Shooter

8 MP Front Shooter

2. Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom

After their much-hyped Augmented Reality (AR) and Daydream compatible phone (Asus Zenfone AR) made it’s debut in the country, the company is ready to launch their next mid range dual camera phone in India. Asus will launch their Zenfone 3 Zoom in the country this month exclusively on Flipkart. With a dual camera set up, the phone will boast a 5000mAh battery and an AMOLED display.

Key Specs

5.5 inch Full HD Display (1080 x 1920 pixels)

Dual Sim with 4G VoLTE Support

Octa Core 2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Processor

4 GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage

5000 mAh Battery

12 MP + 12 MP Dual Rear Camera

13 MP Front Camera

Android Marshmallow v6.0.1

3. Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Samsung has been riding high on the success of their Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Even Samsung did some record breaking business in Q1. Eyeing to replace Apple as the most valued tech brand, Samsung is all ready to take the wraps off their much-anticipated Galaxy Note 8. The product will launch in NYC on August 23 and will be available in the country by the month end. The high-end flagship is expected to come with some killer hardware on board with Infinity Display and the signature Note stylus.

Key Specs

5.7 inch Quad HD Display (3840 x 2160 pixels)

Dual Sim with VoLTE support

Android 7.1 Nougat

6 GB RAM

128GB onboard storage

13MP + 13MP Dual Rear Camera

8MP Front Camera

4. Blackberry KEYOne

The out-of-limelight premium phone maker BlackBerry is all ready to launch their KEYone smartphone in the country. The handset will launch in India on August 1, and they have already sent out the invites. The device will sport a 4.5 inch full HD display with their typical BlackBerry QWERTY keypad below it. The device will run the latest Snapdragon 625 with 3GB of RAM.

Key Specs

4.5 inch Full HD Display (1080 x 1620 pixels)

Will support 4G

Octa Core 2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Processor

3 GB RAM

32 GB onboard storage

3505 mAh Battery

12 MP Rear Camera

8 MP Front Camera

5. Sony Xperia L1

Sony has a wide range of smartphones available in the country, with a minor market share. Among all of the announcements made this year, Sony hasn’t only launched their Xperia L1 in the country. Xperia L1 will probably launch in the country this month. The Xperia L1 is a mid ranged device which packs a 5.5 inch HD display with Android Nougat 7.0 on board. It will run MT 6737 processor with 2GB of RAM.

Key Specs

5.5 inch HD Display (720 x 1280 pixels)

Dual Sim with 4G

Quad Core 1.4 GHz MT 6737 processor Processor

2GB RAM

16GB onboard storage

2620 mAh Battery

Android Nougat v7.0

13MP Rear Camera

5MP Front Camera

6. Moto Z2 Force

Moto announced their shatterproof Z2 Force last week at NYC. The device will make its debut in the country in August itself. The Z2 Force sports a 5.5-inch 2k P-OLED screen which has a Shatter Shield display, which can’t be broken. The device packs in Snapdragon 835 processor with an option to choose between 4GB and 6GB of RAM. It is also Moto’s first device with a dual rear camera setup.

Key Specs

5.5-inch 2k P-OLED display with Shatter Shield feature

Dual Sim with 4G VoLTE support

Octa Core 2.35 GHz Snapdragon 835 Processor

6GB and 4GB RAM

128GB and 64GB inbuilt storage

Android Nougat v7.1.1

2730 mAh Battery

12MP+12MP Dual Rear Setup

5MP Front Camera

7. Nokia 6

Nokia 6 was announced a month ago, though the device will be up for sale by the end of August in the country. Both Nokia 6 and Nokia 5 will be available from 23 August exclusively on Amazon (only for the registered users). The Nokia 5 will be available via offline channels too. Nokia 6 packs in a Snapdragon 430 with 3GB RAM, and an awesome 16MP shooter on the back.

Key Specs

5.5 inch Full HD Display (1080 x 1920 pixels)

Dual Sim with 4G VoLTE Support

Octa Core 1.4 GHz Snapdragon 430 Processor

3GB RAM

32GB onboard storage

Android Nougat v7.1.1

3000 mAh Battery

16MP Rear Camera with f2.0 aperture

8MP Front Camera

It’s clear that there is a lot to look forward to when it comes to smartphone launches in the month of August. Which of the launches are you looking forward to most? Do let us know in comments!

So far, the Surface Phone has proved to be the unicorn of the mobile world. It is as elusive as the mythical beast of the folklore with only whispers and ‘reported sightings’. But, Microsoft today has made public a patent for new devices called “Surface Phones” which will “not look like phones that are there today.”

The Redmond giant has chosen to go public with the patent even after posting a two percent decrease in Surface devices. Earlier this year, Satya Nadella was quoted saying,

“We will continue to be in the phone market not as defined by today’s market leaders, but by what it is that we can uniquely do in what is the most ultimate mobile device.”

The patent in question is titled ‘Wireless Communication Device’ and talks about a bendable smartphone with an antenna, battery, SIM card holders and screen connectors split over a hinge to create a dual-winged device. How many of these features make it to the actual phones, remains to be seen.

What this means for consumers

Microsoft has already pulled the plug on Windows 8.1 phones. We feel that this is a golden opportunity for Microsoft to start with a clean slate, to define their mobile devices, without any distractions from their past efforts.

Windows Mobile was not killed off by competition but by the traditional and rigid culture prevalent in Microsoft and their view of mobile devices. But now that seems to be changing as newer ideas and innovations are being pushed through, and are actually reaching consumers.

Continuum is the perfect example of this. Imagine carrying the power of a full-size PC in a phone that can fit in a pocket. Windows phones were a tough sell everywhere. Mainly because of Microsoft being too late to the smartphone party. They failed to grasp the importance of having a robust eco-system of apps to support their mobile platform.

The Surface Phone might change all that; should change that. It can provide the mobile platform with an unbeatable ecosystem of desktop-grade applications.

Surface Phone in India:

Here in India, Microsoft’s Windows is still the OS of choice. Microsoft should leverage this by making India one of the first markets to receive the Surface Phone. Indian consumers will definitely invest in a mobile device which can make calls and turn into a full-blown computer whenever needed.

To most of the people, such a device still feels like science fiction. But it is a fascinating fact that such devices do exist. If Microsoft prices the Surface Phone right, it has the potential to be the new PC revolution. Let us now wait for the Surface Phone to drop into reality. Anyone at Microsoft listening?

Flipkart is back again with their grand sale, and this time it’s all about gadgets. The Flipkart Grand Gadget Day Sale has some of the breathtaking offers and deals, with heavy discounts on a wide range of gadgets.

The discounts include Cameras, Laptops, Tablets, Headphones, Gaming Accessories and many more. The sale will continue from today – July 24 till July 26.
From Apple MacBook Air to the new iPad Pro to Rs 20,000 off exchange offer on laptops, take a look at the best of deals you could grab at the Grand Gadgets Days Sale.

Laptops

Flipkart is offering discounts on a wide range of laptops starting from budget segment devices to the high end laptops.

1. Up to Rs. 1000 off on Budget Laptops

You will get an additional discount of up to Rs. 1000 on Budget Laptops like

4. Up to Rs. 20,000 off on Exchange for Premium Thin and Light laptops

Tablets

From pre-orders for the newly launched tablets to the best selling tablets, Flipkart has an offer for all.

1. Apple iPad Pro Pre Order

Both theiPad Pro 10.5 inchandiPad Pro 12.9 inch will be available for the pre-orders in all the available storage variants – 32GB, 64GB, 256GB and 512GB and in all the four colour variants – Gold, Rose Gold, Silver and Space Grey. All are now available for pre-orders on Flipkart.

Bank Offer

Additionally, you can avail an extra five per cent discount, if you are an Axis Bank Customer (Applicable for Netbanking, Debit and Credit Card Transactions) for a maximum of Rs. 1,500.

The Superphone Challenge (Full Cashback on Your Smartphone)

With the Sale, Flipkart also announced The Superphone Challenge where Flipkart has openly challenged, that there are no smartphones who can beat their 12 Pre-Listed Phones. Though if any user is able to find a smartphone, with at least four pre-mentioned features that are better than the ones listed by Flipkart, it promises to pay the full amount of the challenger smartphone as cashback. The challenge will go on till August 4.

VoLTE has become a must in Smartphones nowadays, thanks to Reliance Jio. VoLTE feature is not only available in Expensive phones but also in cheaper phones. We do a round-up for 7 VoLTE phones below Rs. 5000!

Reliance Jio might have announced their glorious Rs. 500 4G VoLTE Feature Phone today at their annual general meeting (AGM), but before you make a decision of buying a 500 rupees Feature Phone, you can better grab a ‘smartphone’ with just a few thousand bucks extra.

Undoubtedly, the Rs. 500 Jio 4G VoLTE Feature Phone will help a huge number of people, but to make full use of the 4G, you need a smartphone!

Here is the list to some of the top 4G VoLTE/LTE Phones under Rs. 5000 (The Ultra Budget Category) –

1. Intex Cloud Q11 (Rs. 4999)

Made by Intex, Cloud Q11 features 1GB RAM, an 8MP rear camera with a 2800 mAh battery. It runs Android Marshmallow 6.0 out-of-the-box powered by MediaTek 6737 V/W Quad Core Processor. The device has a 5.5 Inch HD IPS Display, and the screen quality is at par with some of the higher budgeted handsets. It houses in 8GB of onboard storage which can further be expanded up to 32 GB. The primary camera with 8MP takes decent pictures, though don’t expect much from the camera sensor.

2. Xolo Era 1X (Rs. 4999)

Xolo Era 1X runs Marshmallow 6.0, powered by 1.3 GHz Quad Core Spreadtrum Processor with a 8 MP Rear camera and 2500 mAh Battery. The device sports a 5 inch HD IPS display with a colour density of 294 PPI. The quality of the display is really good and the device runs Marshmallow 6.0 offering a near-stock Android experience. It works well while multitasking and can handle moderate games with ease. Packing in 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage, which can further be expanded till 32GB, the device has an 8-megapixel rear shooter, LED flash and 4P Largan Lens. It can shoot slow-motion videos, Time Lapse Videos, take Live Photos and cast screen. Even the 5-megapixel front camera has a Dual LED flash. Both primary and secondary camera is really good considering the price point. It houses in a 2500mAh battery which does a decent job with normal use.

3. Xolo Era 2 (Rs. 4499)

Xolo Era 2 features 1GB of RAM, a 5MP shooter on the back, runs Android Marshmallow 6.0 and is powered by 1.3 GHz Spreadtrum Quad Core Processor. The onboard storage is good enough to keep in the basic apps and games. The 5-megapixel shooter on the back has a LED flash and the 5-megapixel front camera also has a front flash. The camera is a decent camera and it supports 4G VoLTE. The device packs in a non-removable 2350 mAh battery.

4. Sansui Horizon 2 (Rs. 4999)

Sansui Horizon 2 features 2GB of RAM, an 8MP rear shooter and run Android Nougat powered by 1.25 GHz MT 6737VW Quad Core Processor. Horizon 2 will come with a 5 Inch High Definition (HD) IPS display and the quality is good and a value for price offers. The device will be running Android Nougat 7.0 out-of-the-box and is the only 4G smartphone under 5000 to run Nougat. The overall software performance is better and does handle tasks with ease. The device has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage which can further be expanded up to 64 GB. It is also the only mobile to have 2GB of RAM under Rs. 5000 with the 4G VoLTE support.

OS – Android Nougat 7.0

Screen &Display – 5 Inch HD IPS Display

Rear Camera – 8MP

Front Camera – 5MP

Processor – 1.25 GHz MT 6737VW Quad Core Processor

RAM – 1GB RAM

Storage – 8GB (Expandable up to 64GB)

Battery – 2450mAh

Pros

Cons

1. 4G VoLTE

1. Memory

2. RAM

2. Camera

3. Display

[Buy Here]

5. Samsung Z2 (Rs. 4650)

The only Samsung device on the list, features 1GB of RAM, a 5MP rear camera, 1500 mAh battery and runs Tizen OS 2.4, powered by 1.5 GHz MediaTek Quad Core processor, which does an average job with the multitasking. It packs in 8GB of onboard storage which is further expandable up to 128 GB via an external memory card. It has a 5-megapixel shooter on the back with a simple VGA camera on the front. The battery is decent but works fine with normal use.

6. LYF Flame 8 (Rs. 4999)

LYF has many budget 4G smartphones, but LYF Flame 8 is their best bet under 5k. With 1GB of RAM, an 8MP rear shooter on the back, the device runs on Lollipop. The device does a decent job while performing normal to basic tasks. It can play down high-end games with minimal lags. The 8MP shooter on the back has a LED flash. The primary camera is average. The device has 8GB of onboard storage, which can further be expanded up to 128 GB.

7. Karbonn K9 Smart (Rs. 4225)

K9 Smart runs Marshmallow 6.0 with an end-to-end bloatware experience. It is powered by MediaTek MT6582M Quad core processor clocked at 1.2 GHz. It can work out on a good number of tasks and is good with multitasking. With a huge 5 inch display, the phone loads in 1GB of RAM and has 8GB of onboard storage. It has a 5 MP shooter on the back with LED Flash and 5MP front shooter. The phone packs in a 2300 mAh battery.

American technology company, Kodak has entered the Indian smartphone market with its new offering – Kodak Ektra. The company launched its LED TV in the market last year, and now Kodak is actually doing what it is meant to. Bullitt Group, a Kodak licensee for mobile devices, announced the smartphone in India at Rs. 19,990. […]

American technology company, Kodak has entered the Indian smartphone market with its new offering – Kodak Ektra. The company launched its LED TV in the market last year, and now Kodak is actually doing what it is meant to.

Bullitt Group, a Kodak licensee for mobile devices, announced the smartphone in India at Rs. 19,990. The smartphone has been available in the US and Europe markets for quite some time now. The smartphone is available on Flipkart for purchase.

Called the ‘camera-first smartphone’, it features some best-in-class camera features like fast-focus, imaging and editing capabilities. It features a 21MP sensor at the back with f/2.0 aperture and a 13MP sensor at the front.

“Kodak carries a strong brand legacy in India, and with EKTRA, we aim to enhance the skills and experience of Indian photo-enthusiasts. The KODAK EKTRA Smartphone is all about capturing the moment, telling a story, and revelling the experience of photography. Our latest features and performance adjustments include RAW support, all of which will help drive our customers’ creativity,” said Peter Stephens, CEO, Bullitt group.

It can be seen that the only thing going for this smartphone is its camera. Kodak boasts of DSLR-like photographs, a camera that can capture neat portrait photos and 4K videos. This smartphone also supports RAW files in manual mode.

The phone comes with Snapseed built-in so that you can edit the raw images there itself. The camera app also has a DSLR-like ‘Scene Selection Dial’ so that you can easily switch the camera mode you’re using.

Having said that, other than the camera the phone doesn’t have the top-of-the-line processor or even the Android version that it can use to the maximum. 3GB RAM is common in smartphones two notches down, and the battery is small as well, considering it is camera-focussed.

To stir things up, Kodak should have at least offered users an option of upgrading to the latest software out of the box or could have upgraded the smartphone with a Qualcomm processor, along with an improved design with minimal bezels. However, not many phones under Rs. 20,000 focus on the camera and most focus on just providing the best value for money.

If you’re an avid photographer and don’t want the hassle of carrying your camera around, then this can be your best bet. However, do keep a look out for Chinese smartphone makers as they’re easily giving a tough time to their Korean and American counterparts.